Conditioning container for brushes



E. KURATH CONDITIONING CONTAINER FOR BRUSHES April 21,- 95@ -2Sheets-Sheet l Filed April l, 1957 Il!) Allnllf lan(- Il INVENTR. Eras?Rufe/2 BY y /fwf/ ff'/ April- 21, 1959 E. lKURATH CONDITIONING CONTAINERFOR BRUSHES 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 F255' Filed April l, 1957 .Fz4

Unite States Patent() CONDITIONING CONTAINER FOR BRUSHES Ernst Kurath,Milwaukee, Wis., assignor to Wisconsin Laboratories, Inc., Dousman,Wis., a corporation of Wisconsin Application April 1, 1957, Serial No.650,020

8 Claims. (Cl. ZIM-15.1)

This invention relates to a container for brushes, and more particularlyone adapted to retain paint brushes in a sealed vapor saturatedcompartment to free them of paint binding materials and retain them in asoft usable condition even after extended periods of non-use.

While numerous forms of paint brush containers have been in generalusage, most of them have had shortcom` ings which rendered themincapable of serving their intended puipose to the best of advantage.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide an improvedvapor type container for paint brushes which will overcome the inherentshortcomings of previously designed containers intended to remove paintbinding materials and maintain used brushes in soft usable substantiallynew condition in spite of long storage periods.

Another object is to provide a container of suliicient size toaccommodate a considerable number of various widths and sizes of paintbrushes.

Another object resides in the provision of new and improved means forthe suspended support of paint brushes housed in the container.

Another object resides in the provision of means for maintaining a brushsupporting element in elevated position to facilitate the selection ofthe desired brush from an assortment of brushes stored in the container.

Another object of the invention resides in the provision of a new andimproved hinged cover for the container.

Another object of the invention resides in the provision of spring urgedmeans for maintaining a substantially uniform pressure on the cover toeffectively seal the container against vapor leakage.

Another object resides in the provision of relatively large at pads ofabsorbent material adapted to be saturated with a paint binder solventsolution.

Another object resides in the provision of positioning means formaintaining the relatively large ilat absorbent pads in space conservingposition adjacent the inner walls of the container.

A more specilic object resides in the construction of the absorbent padswhich include a reservoir adapted to hold a supply of liquid solvent formaintaining the pads in saturated condition.

Another object is to expose a large area of the absorbent pads tofacilitate vaporization of the solvent within the container to expeditethe dissolving of oils and binding materials contained in the residualpaint which remains in the brushes after use.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from the followingdescription of an illustrative embodiment of the present invention.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view taken through a brushcontainer constructed in accordance with the teachings of the presentinvention;

t Fig. 2 is a vertical transverse sectional view takensubstantially onthe line 2 2 of Fig. 1;

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Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the device shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary end elevational view of the latching means forretaining the handle of the container in carrying position.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view, taken on the line 5--5of Fig. 3, showing spring urged means for effecting uniform sealingpressure between the cover and body of the container;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view,'taken substantially onthe line 6-6 of Fig. 3, showing means for permitting relative movementbetween the container cover and the carrying handle;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view through the body of thecontainer, taken substantially on the line 7-7 of Fig. 3, showingdetails of construction of a movable brush supporting member and thelatch supporting structure;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view, takensubstantially on the line 8-8 of Fig. l, showing the construction andpositioning of the pads of absorbent material; and

Fig. 9 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view, taken on theline 9 9 of Fig. 2 showing the pads of absorbent material broken away tomore clearlyl illustrate the formation and structure of the pads ofabsorbent material. l

Before entering into a detailed description of the structure andoperation of the illustrative embodiment of thie present invention, itis believed that a brief description of the nature and functioning ofthe device will serve to emphasize its numerous advantages. j

Vapor type paint brush containers provide a simple and effective meansfor storing brushes during periods of non-use and maintaining them insoft usable condition at all times. y

It is a well established fact that paint brushes stored in the open airbecome hard due to the evaporation of solvents and the resultantsolidifying of the various materials normally present in all paints,vamishes and lacquers, even though the brush has been carefully cleanedbefore it is put away.

Since numerous types of binding materials, such as oils and resins, arefound in all paints, vamishes and lacquers, the most satisfactorysolution to the problem of maintaining the brushes in soft, pliable andusable condition resides in the provision of a suitable solvent materialwhich is capable of penetrating the brushes to dissolve the bindingmaterials and prevent their hardness. Experience has taught the factthat old used brushes may be rejuvenated and the life of the new brushesmay be materially lengthened if they are stored in an atmospherecontaining a solvent vapor rather than being immersed in a bath ofliquid solvents. In view of the many different binding materials whichare commonly used in the paint industry, it has been discovered that theuse of a blend of solvents is highly desirable so that 4each of thevarious types of binding materials can be dissolved from the brushes topreclude their hardening. After the excess paint, varnish or lacquer hasbeen removed from the brush, the brush may be suspended in the containerin a manner to be hereinafter more specifically described and exposed tothe action of the vapors of the blend of solvents which till thcontainer after it has been closed and sealed. y A Referring moreparticularly to Fig.v l of the accompanying drawings, it will be notedthat the brush conrainer 10, embodying the teachings of the presentinvention, is preferably rectangular in shape and having a` depth greatenough to hold various sized brushes including sash brushes andcomprises a flanged bottom 11,"a wrap-around wall 12 joined at its lowermarginal edge to the flanged portion of the bottom 11 by means'o'f'channel-shaped binding strip 13. The several pieces are joined' togetherinzany appropriate mannerto provide an' air-tight leak-proof joint. Theupper marginal edge of the wrap-around wall is provided with an inwardlyand downwardly turned ange 1-`4 which delineates the open topv of thecontainer.

A'. cover 15 having a size slightly larger than that of thefmouth. ofthe container: includes a depending marginal ange 16 adapted to surroundthe marginal. edge of the mouth of thecontainer. A gasket 17 preferablyformed of. cork or other suitable material is adhesively secured totheunderside of the cover 15 to afford an air-tight sealv when the cover isapplied to the open topped conrainer.

Invv order to insure uniform yieldable sealing pressure between thegasket 1-7 of the cover 15 and the upper marginal edge of the containera coil spring 18 (see Fig.. 5 is positionedover a stud 19 whichextendsthrough the central portion of. the cover and is threadedlysecured vto the underside of the cover through the medium of.` a nuty 20suitably anchored to the underside of the cover 15. The lower end of thecoil spring 18 engages the top surface of the cover 15, while the upperend of the. coil spring 18 is housed within a recess 21 formed inahandle 22 which provides the carrying medium for the container. Thecover 15 is movably secured to the handle -22 bymeans of two pairs oflaterally spaced angle brackets 23 disposed adjacent the opposite endsof the cover 15. The horizontal portions of the angle brackets 23. (-seeFig. 6) are secured in lateral spaced relationship on the top surface ofthe cover 15 by the application of nuts and bolts 24. The lateralspacing between the vertical portions of the angle brackets 23 is suchthat the handle 22 is vertically movable between the upright portions.of the angle brackets 23. The handle 22 is provided with a verticallydisposed slot 25 adapted to receive a bolt 2.6 which passes throughaligned holes 27 formed in the adjacent brackets 23 to retain the cover15 on the handle 22. Itis to be understood that similar means areprovided for retaining the handle in operative association with bothpairs of angle brackets 23.

Suitable hinge and latching means are provided for the opposite ends ofthe handle 22. In the present instance, the supporting structures forthe hinge and latching means for the handle 22 are applied in alignedrelationship to the outer surfaces of the end walls 12 of the container10 adjacent the upper portion thereof. Each of these structures includesa substantially rectangular box-like member 28 having one of itsnarrower sides secured to the end wall 12 of the container by means ofvertically spaced bolts 29.. A pair of vertically disposed laterallyspaced arms 30 are secured by means of bolts 31 to the inner surfaces ofthe member 28 adjacent the side of the member disposed opposite theanchoring means. A pair of axially aligned holes 32 are positionedadjacent the upper extremity of each of the arms 30. Additional axiallyaligned holes 33 are disposed in the arms 30 below theA holes 32. Theholes 32 at the upper extremity of one pair of arms 30y serve to receivea bolt 34 which passes through a hole adjacent one end of the handle 22to provide a hinge connection between the handle and the supportingmeans.

The latching means for the opposite end of the handle 22 comprises aU-shaped rod 35 having a long leg 36 slidably receivable in the loweraxially aligned holes 33 in the. farms 30 disposed on the end of thecontainer opposite the hinge bolt 34. A nut 37 is threadedly attached tothe extremity of the long leg 36 to preclude accidental removal of thelatching means from. its support. The, shorter leg 38 ofthe U-shaped rod35 is adapted to be. slidably received. through the aligned holes 32 anda hole 39 which passes through the handle. 22 to releasably retain thehandle in load-carrying relationship with the container 10.

When the handle 22 is in latched. position on the contanen 10a thebolts. 24. which pass. through the angle brackets 23 are positionedintermediate the ends ofthe vertically disposed slots 25, formed in thehandle 22, so that the coil spring 18 mounted in the recess 21 in thehandle 22 exerts a downward pressure on the cover 15 to yieldably retaina uniform pressure between the gasket 17 in the cover 15 and the openmarginal top of the container 10 to maintain an airtight seal betweenthe cover 15 and the container 10.

The container 10 is provided with a pair of identically formedbrush-holding members in the form of bent rods 40 which are verticallymovable and supported on mounting brackets Ll1 fixedly positioned onshorter opposite sides of the container 10. In order to strengthen theend walls of the container 10', to better secure the mounting brackets41 and the hinge and latch mounting means 28, a channel-shaped plate 4.2is secured in position on the walls of the container 16 adjacent theirupper portions. The bolts 29 which secure the box-like members 28 inposition on the ends of the container 10 pass through suitable holes.formed in the plate 42 and also through holes 43 formed in the baseportion of the mounting brackets 41. The members 28 and 41 are rigidlysecured in position by the application of nuts 44 to the inner ends ofthe bolts 29. Each of the mounting brackets 41 are provided vwith a pairof vertically spaced inwardly directed horizontal portions 45 providedwith aligned holes 46 adapted to slidably receive a shank portion 47 ofthe brush-holding rods 4i). A nut 48 is threadedly attached to the lowerend of the shank portion 47 of each of the rods 40. When the rod ismoved vertically to the elevated position (shown in dotted lines in Fig.1)-, one side of the nut engages a depending ange portion 49 formed onthe inner end of the lower horizontal portion 45 of the bracket 41 tofrictionally engage the nut 48 and retain the rod 40 in its elevatedposition. The inner end of the upper horizontal portion 45 of thebracket 41 is provided with an upwardly directed flange portion 50provided with a centrally disposed notch 51 adapted to receive andposition a horizontally disposed portion 52 of the brush-holding rods4d.

Relatively large absorbent solvent saturated pads 53 areremovablypositioned adjacent the longer side walls of the container 10by a pair of vertically spaced flat wire bars 54 provided with flangedends 55 adapted to be secured to the inner surfaces of the end walls ofthe container 10 to retain the bars 54 in spaced relationship with theside walls of the container.

The absorbent pads 53 each have an area which is slightly less than thearea of the longer side walls of the container 10 so as to present arelatively large exposed area to facilitate the saturation of the sealedcontainer with the vapor of the solvent.

Each of the absorbent pads 53 comprises a plurality of fibrous sheets ofabsorbent material 56, such as cardboard; These sheets are retainedtogether in any suitable manner such as by the application of stitchingor metal staples 57. The lower portion of each of the pads 53 is encasedin an open topped solvent containing envelope 58 which in turn is housedwithin an absorbent folded sheet or cover 59.

A brief description of the use and operation of the device will serve toemphasize its numerous advantages for maintaining used brushes in newcondition and to prevent their hardening in spite of long delays betweenperiods of usage of particular brushes. To prepare the container foruse, the handle 22 and associated cover 15I are swung to the dotted lineopen position, shown in Fig. l, and the absorbent pads 53, which liebetween the vertically spaced. bars 54 and the adjacent longer sidewalls of the container 10, are saturated with the proper solventsolution. The container is now ready to receive brushes. One of thebrush-holding rods 40 is then elevated to the dotted line position shownin Fig. 1 and as many as four or six brushes may be retained insuspended position on the horizontal portion 52 of the rod 40. When ythe desired number of brushes have been suspended on the elevatedbrush-holding member 40, it may be lowered to a position where it lieswithin the notch 51 of the mounting bracket 41. The other brush-holdingmember 40 may then be elevated and additional brushes may be suspendedon the horizontal portion 42 of the other brush-holding rod 40. It thenmay be lowered to a position wherein it lies within the notch 51 in itsmounting bracket 41 to releasably retain the horizontal portions 52 ofthe rods 40 in axial alignment and the suspended brushes againstaccidental displacement within the container. The handle 22 and cover 15may then be swung as a unit to a position above the open container, withthe shorter leg of the U-shaped latching rod 35 withdrawn from the hole32 in the upper ends of the latch supporting arms 30 so that the freeend of the handle 22 will pass between the laterally spaced arms 30.Slight pressure may then be applied to the top of the handle 22 in order`to align the hole 39 in the handle 22 with the holes 32 in the arms 30so that the shorter leg 38 of the latch 35 may be inserted through thealigned holes to releasably retain the handle 22 in load-sustainingposition on the container 10. The required downward pressure on thehandle 22 to align the hole 39 with the holes 32 in the arms 30 resultsin the compression of the coil spring 1S to exert uniform downwardpressure on the cover 15 to insure sealing pressure between the gasket17 and the upper marginal rim of the container 10.

The vapor-laden solvent atmosphere within the sealed container permeatesthe brushes to dissolve any paint or other binding material contained inthe stored brushes to preclude their hardening. In actual practice, thebinding materials retained in the bristles of the brushes actuallydissolve and drip from the suspended brushes to free them completely ofpaint and its binding materials.

While the invention has been described in considerable detail in theforegoing specification, it is to be understood that various changes maybe made in its embodiment without departing from or sacrificing any ofthe advantages hereinafter claimed.

I claim:

l. A conditioning container for used paint brushes, said containercomprising an open topped hollow body portion, a brush supportingelement mounted for vertical movement on the interior surface of saidcontainer, said brush supporting element having a lowered positionwherein the supported brushes are disposed wholly within said containerand a raised position wherein a portion of the supported brushes isreadily accessible for application to or removal from said brushsupporting element, a handle hingedly mounted on said container, acontainer cover operatively associated with said handle and movable withrespect thereto, yieldable spring means disposed between said handle andsaid cover, latching means for releasably retaining said handle in loadcarrying position on said container, said spring means being responsiveto the xed positioning of said handle in latched position to eiect asealing pressure between said cover and the open top of said container,and a pad of absorbent material y within said container, said padadapted to be saturated With a volatile paint binder solvent solutionwhereby brushes housed within said sealed container are exposed tosolvent-laden vapor within said container to maintain the brushes insoft usable condition.

2. A conditioning container for used paint brushes to maintain themagainst hardening, said container comprising an open topped bodyportion, a brush supporting element mounted for vertical movement insaid container, said brush supporting element having a lowered positionwherein the supported brushes are disposed wholly within said containerand a raised position wherein a portion of the supported brushes isreadily accessible for application to or removal from said brushsupporting element, a handle hingedly mounted on said container, acontainer cover operatively associated with said handle, yieldablespring means disposed between said handle and said cover for normallyurging said cover away from said handle,

latching means for releasably retaining said handle in load carryingposition on said container, said yieldable spring means being responsiveto the latched positioning of said handle to effect sealing pressurecontact between said cover and the open top of said container, and a padof absorbent material within said container, said pad adapted to besaturated with a volatile paint binder solvent solution whereby brusheshoused within said sealed container are exposed to the action ofsolvent-laden vapor from said absorbent pad to dissolve the paintbinding material on said brushes to maintain them in soft usablecondition.

3. A conditioning container for used paint brushes to maintain them insoft usable condition, said container comprising an open topped bodyportion, a brush supporting element mounted for vertical movement insaid container, said brush supporting element having a lowered positionwherein the supported brushes are disposed wholly within said containerand a raised position wherein a portion of the supported brushes isreadily accessible for application to or removal from said brushsupporting element, a handle disposed above and across said container, ahinged mounting means for one end of said handle, a latching means forreleasably retaining the other end of said handle in load carryingposition on said container, a container cover movably associated withsaid handle, yieldable means disposed between said handle and said coverfor normally urging said cover toward an extreme position away from saidhandle, said yieldable means being responsive to the latched positioningof said handle to effect sealing pressure contact between said cover andthe open top of said container, and a pad of absorbent material withinsaid container, said pad adapted to be saturated with a volatile paintbinder solvent solution whereby brushes housed within said sealedcontainer are exposed to the action of solvent-laden vapor from saidabsorbent pad to dissolve the paint binding material on said brushes tomaintain them in soft usable condition.

4. A conditioning container for used paint brushes to maintain them insoft usable condition, said container comprising an open topped bodyportion, a mounting bracket secured to the inner surface of saidcontainer, a brush supporting element carried by said bracket andmounted for vertical movement with respect thereto, said brushsupporting element having a lowered position wherein the supportedbrushes are disposed wholly within said container and a raised positionwherein a portion of the supported brushes is readily accessible forapplication to or removal from said brush supporting element,cooperating means on said bracket and brush supporting element tofrictionally retain said brush supporting element in elevated positionwherein a portion of said brush supporting element is disposed abovesaid container to facilitate the application and removal of brushesthereon, a handle disposed above and across said container, ahingedmounting means for one end of said handle, a latching means forreleasably retaining the other end of said handle in load carryingposition on said container, a container cover movably associated withsaid handle, yieldable means disposed between said handle and said coverfor normally urging said cover toward an extreme position away from saidhandle, said yieldable means being responsive to the latched positioningof said handle to effect sealing pressure contact between said cover andthe open top of said container, and a pad of absorbent material withinsaid container, said pad adapted to be saturated with a volatile paintbinder solvent solution whereby brushes housed within said sealedcontainer are exposed to the action of solvent-laden vapor from saidabsorbent pad to dissolve the paint binding material on said brushes tomaintain them in soft usable condition.

5. A conditioning container for paint brushes, said container comprisinga substantially rectangular open toppedv hollow body portion, avertically movable brush supporting element mounted' on the interiorsurface of one end of said body portion, said brush supporting elementhaving a lowered position wherein the suppored brushes are disposedWholly within said container and a raised position wherein a portion ofthe supported brushes is readily accessible for application to orremoval from said brush supporting element, a relatively large pad ofabsorbent material positioned adjacent a side wall of said body portion,said pad adapted to be saturated with a volatile paint binder solventsolution, a handle hingedly mounted on said container, a container coveroperatively associated with said handle, and latching means forreleasably retaining said handle in load carrying position and saidcover in sealing contact with the open top of said container wherebybrushes housed within said sealed container are exposed to solvent ladenvapor within said container to maintain the brushes in soft usablecondition.

6. A conditioning container for paint brushes, said container comprisinga substantially rectangular open topped hollow body portion, avertically movable brush supporting element mounted on the interiorsurface of one end of said body portion, said brush supporting elementhaving a lowered position wherein the supported brushes are disposedwholly within said container and a raised position wherein a portion ofthe supported brushes is readily accessible for application to orremoval from said brush supporting element, a relatively large pad ofabsorbent material positioned adjacent a side wall of said body portion,said pad adapted to be saturated with a volatile paint binder solventsolution, a handle hingedly mounted on said container, a container covermovably mounted on said handle, yieldable means disposed between saidhandle and said cover, and latching means for releasably retaining saidhandle in load carrying position on said container, said yieldable meansbetween said handle and cover serving to exert a uniform sealingpressure between said cover and the open top of said container when saidhandle is latched in load carrying position on said container wherebybrushes housed within said sealed container are exposed to solvent ladenvapor within said container to maintain the brushes in soft usablecondition.

7. A conditioning container for paint brushes, said con tainercomprising a substantially rectangular relatively deep open topped bodyportion, a pair of vertically movable brush supporting elements on theinterior surface of the opposite ends of said body portion, each of saidpair of vertically movable brush supporting elements having a loweredposition wherein the supported brushes are disposed wholly within saidcontainer and an elevated position wherein a portion of said brushsupporting element is disposed above said container to therebyfacilitate the application or removal of brushes to and from saidsupporting elements a pair of pads of absorbent material disposedadjacent the opposite sides of said body portion, each of said padsadapted to be saturated with a volatile paint binder solvent solution, ahandle dispensed above and across said container, a hinged mountingmeans for one end of said handle, a latching means on said container forreleasably retaining the other end of said handle in load carryingposition onsaid container, a container cover movably associated withsaid handle, spring means disposed'between said handle and said coverfor normally urging said cover toward an extreme position away from saidhandle, said spring means being responsive to the latched positioning ofsaid handle to effect sealing pressure contact between said cover andopen top of said container whereby brushes housed within said sealedcontainer are exposed to the action of solvent-laden vapor from saidabsorbent pad to dissolve the paint binding material on said brushes tomaintain them in soft usable condition.

8. A conditioning container for paint brushes, said container comprisinga substantially rectangular relatively deep open, topped body portion, apair of brackets mounted on the inner surface of said container atVopposite ends thereof, abmsh supporting element vertically movable withrespect to each of said brackets, each of said vertically movable bmshsupporting elements having a lowered position wherein the supportedbrushes are wholly within said container and an elevated positionwhereinV a portion of said brush supporting element is disposed abovesaid container to thereby facilitate the application or rcmoval ofbrushes to and from said supporting elements, cooperating means onsaidsbrackets and brush supporting elements to frictionally retain saidelements in elevated position wherein a portion of each of said elementsis disposed above said container to facilitate the application andremoval of brushes thereon, a handle disposed above and across saidcontainer, a hinged mounting means for one end of said handle, alatching means for releasably retaining the other end of said handle inload carrying position on said container, a container cover movablyassociated with said handle, spring means disposed betweenfsaidl handleand said cover for normally urging said cover toward an extreme positionaway from said handle, said spring means being responsive to the latchedpositioning of said handle to effect sealing pressure contact betweensaid cover and the open top of said container, and a pad of absorbentmaterial within said container, said pad adapted to be saturated with avolatile paint binder solvent solution whereby brushes housed withinsaid sealed container are exposed to the action of solventladen vaporfrom said absorbent pad to dissolvethe paint binding material onsaid'brushes to maintain them in soft usable condition.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,109,828 Goti Sept. 8, 1914 1,147,785 Cotlin July 27, 1915 1,305,862Adair June 3, 1919 1,435,110 Etord Nov. 7, 1922 2,109,346 Terzo July 8,1937 2,270,593 Kurath et al Ian. 20, 1942 2,768,851 Gifford Apr. 23,1954 FOREIGN PATENTS 734,458 France Aug. 1, 1932

